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Lewis Hamilton insists the much-maligned new generation of Formula 1 cars is still generating "real racing" despite criticism of the on-track product in these early weeks of the 2026 campaign. The Australian and Chinese Grands Prix offered plenty of overtaking action, but some felt it was artificial given the significant role being played by the new battery charging system.

The old Drag Reduction System (DRS) has been replaced by 'Overtake Mode' which helps to promote overtaking by providing a car with greater recharging speed when it is one second behind another car. The result so far has been some spectacular battles which has seen drivers spend some time duelling for position, often overtaking each other several times in the process.

Hamilton enjoyed one such battle with his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in Shanghai and came out on top eventually to secure his first podium in red. And, speaking to reporters at Suzuka on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, he doubled down on his belief that the new cars have made the racing more entertaining, dismissing those who have criticised 'yo-yo' racing.

He said: "There's lots of different views on this year's generation of car. For me, it's just exciting that it's a new era for the sport. I think every time there has been a new era, it has always been exciting just to see where people come out. I'm proud of the team and of the work we've done over the last year to get us to this point and to be closer to the front and in the battle. I think it is showing the amazing work the team has done.

"Of course, there's bits I don't love, like the deployment and the lift and coast - those are things that we have to do. So it's not all ideal but, racing-wise, it's been really, really fun. That race I had with Charles just in the second race was one of the most fun races I've had. Other than that, it was maybe me and Nico [Rosberg] in Bahrain many years ago.

"I just hope we get more of that, because that's what racing is about - back and forth, back and forth, rather than one overtake and then it's over. So I personally enjoy it. The point that I was making was that it happens in karting all the time, back and forth, back and forth. No one ever calls it yo-yo racing - it's real racing. So whoever's coming up with that... yeah."

However, many remain unconvinced by the new cars, including F1 reporter Keith Collantine, editor of the RaceFans website who responded: "Does Lewis Hamilton truly think fans are too stupid to spot the difference between a real battle for position in karting and F1 drivers being passed because their power unit has run out of energy? No, he's just being a shill for FOM. But it's still depressing to hear from a seven-times champion."

Another fan on social media wrote: "The regs certainly aren't good. The seesawing that happens in the races is just a joke." But some others disagree, including one fan who said: "It's a tech sport. Resource management is always a factor." And another who wrote: "The new F1 regs aren't perfect but the side-by-side racing has been great."